Staff Reporter.
Mamelodi Sundowns have continued their dominance in the DStv Premiership, recording a 2-0 away win over Orlando Pirates at the Orlando Stadium on Saturday afternoon.
Sundowns started well and created a couple of early half chances, the best of which saw Themba Zwane shoot over the target in the ninth minute, while Thabiso Kutumela was also a busy man against his former team, trying his luck with several long-range efforts in the opening quarter.
The first notable effort on target from either side arrived in the 30th minute, with Pirates’ full-back Bandile Shandu running onto a clever reverse pass from Vincent Pule and looking to fool the goalkeeper with a low shot toward the near post rather than a cross, but Denis Onyango was good enough to make a great save.
After a goalless first-half, the Brazillians increased their attacking intent in the second stanza and were rewarded duly for the efforts.
The second half saw the Brazilians move through the gears and they claimed the lead on 54 minutes: Kutumela did great work down the right flank to burst past two defenders before playing in a low cross from the by-line, and Peter Shalulile provided a first-time finish via the underside of the crossbar which gave goalkeeper Siyabonga Mpontshane no chance at all.
Pirates nearly levelled the game five minutes later, with Vincent Pule’s low cross from the left turned toward his own goal by a lunging Rushine De Reuck, but Onyango again showed fine reflexes to make a save and keep his side in the ascendancy.
The Brazilians effectively put the game beyond the Buccaneers with a second Shalulile goal on 72 minutes: Lyle Lakay’s diagonal was chested down by the Namibian, before he squeezed the ball past Mpontshane’s right hand for a fine finish from a tight angle.
By contrast, Pirates had a chance to pull a goal back on 82 minutes when Tshegofatso Mabasa got in behind the Sundowns defence, but his attempt at a finish was too close to Onyango and allowed the Ugandan ‘keeper to make another good save.
The result, secured by a brace of second-half goals from Shalulile, sees the Brazilians continue to top the log (with 13 points from a possible 15), all while keeping up their record of not having conceded a league goal so far in 2021-22.
Meanwhile AmaZulu FC secured their first DStv Premiership victory of the season when they edged out Baroka FC 1-0 at the Jonsson Kings Park Stadium.
The victory took Usuthu to the eighth spot on the league standings and they are now a place behind Bakgaga Ba Mphahlele, who recorded their third defeat of the season.
Usuthu applied some pressure on the Bakgaga Ba Mphahlele’s defence from the start and the visitors conceded a penalty after Sphesihle Maduna was fouled in the box.
Bonginkosi Ntuli made no mistake from the spot-kick as the in-form striker scored to hand AmaZulu a 1-0 lead in the 13th minute and it was his fourth goal in three matches.
Baroka tried to respond with a goal, but they were frustrated by the hosts’ resolute defence and they resorted to long balls, and crosses which were cleared away by the hosts.
With the clock looming, Usuthu possessed calmness to register their first league win of the season after running down the final stages of the match.
Other DSTV Premiership Results:
Sekhukhune United 1 – 1 Golden Arrows.
Stellenbosch FC 2 – 1 Chippa United.
Supersport United 2 – 1 Maritzburg United.